CRJ 315: Race, Class and Gender in the Criminal Justice System

Course Description

This course will focus on a thorough and critical examination of meanings, history, correlations, and consequences of serious forms of social inequalities and arbitrarily assigned privileges, particularly based on social class and race/ethnicity in the American criminal justice system from a criminological perspective. Implications will be made for inequalities based on gender biases as well. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

CRJ 215: Criminology

ENG 101: English Composition 1

ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Analyze meanings, perspectives, forms, and historical background of racial and social class inequalities involved in administering law enforcement and the criminal justice system in the United States, including the importance of ethical behavior by criminal justice stakeholders.

Interpret various components, positions, and processes involved in the criminal justice work and the crime control enterprise on the bases of diversity as well as futuristic criteria.

Identify rationalizations and claims made by economic elites and White Americans for claiming privileges and prerogatives in society and the implications these claims have for the criminal justice system.

Explain consequences of social and economic inequalities for victimization of middle and underclass as well as nonwhite people in the administration of justice in America.

Examine elements of the unequal enforcement of "the justice for all" principle in criminal prosecution, sentencing and imprisonment.

Topics: Understanding Privilege and the Intersection of Class, Race and Gender

Reading:

Chapter 6

Read assigned chapter

Review the Lecture material

Participate in the Discussions

Complete Journal entry for week 5 (no submission this week)

6

4,5

Topics: Victimology, Lawmaking and the Administration of Criminal Law

Reading:

Chapters 7 & 8

Read assigned chapters

Review the Lecture material

Participate in the Discussions

Complete Journal entry for week 6

Submit Journal entries for weeks 5 and 6

7

2,5

Topics: Law Enforcement and Criminal Prosecution

Reading:

Chapter 9

Read assigned chapter

Review the Lecture material

Participate in the Discussions

Complete Journal entry for week 7 (no submission this week)

Submit Research Paper

Prepare for Final Exam

8

5

Topics: Punishment, Sentencing and Imprisonment

Reading:

Chapter 10

Review Chapters 6-10 for Final Exam

Read assigned chapter

Review the Lecture material

Participate in the Discussions

Complete Journal entry for week 8

Submit Journal entries for weeks 7 and 8

Complete Final Exam

Final ExamChapters 6-10SLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.

CharterOak.edu

Search Our Website & Official Catalog

Charter Oak State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, ancestry, disability, military status, veteran status, or other non-merit reasons, in admissions, educational programs or activities and employment, and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.